Tim 's Journal

G'day all, I am having a procedure this Friday to have an 8x4mm hole around my mechanical st jude medical heart aortic valve plugged which is causing severe regurgitation. This is now best practice as opposed to having a 4th ohs. This wasn't available to me in 2006 when my 2nd ohs to replace my diseased bicuspid aortic valve with the st jude. Months after the replacement the stitching began to fail as my tissue surrounding the valve is heavily calcified which can be common with those of us born with bicuspid aortic valve. Therefore 18 months later ohs #3 to redo valve stitching 9/2007. Over the past few years my leak has moved from moderate to severe so my cardiologist referred me to a surgeon in March to discuss ohs#4. As we all do, preoperative tests, CT, TEE & angiogram showed the leak was around the valve and not through. The interventional cardiologist is going to carry out the procedure via transcatheter through my groin and wrist and attempt to plug the leak using an amplatzer. Whilst this procedure is much better than a reoperation, I am still nervous as the Dr has only carried out this procedure 12times and 2 have failed. There are many possible complications associated like plug coming out, infection, bleeding, stroke, interfering with the valve leaflets , making hole bigger etc. However if all goes well it should be 1 night stay in hospital and severe regurgitation symptoms alleviated instantly. If it goes wrong it could be emergency ohs#4. Just wanted to know if anyone else on this site has any experience with transcatheter paravalular leak closure. All the best to those facing & recovering from ohs.

Had CT, TOE & coronary angiogram over last few days and it was determined that my aortic regurgitation was due to a paravalular leak and not through my 13 yo St Jude Medical valve. Back in 2006 when it was first put in to replace my diseased bicuspid aortic valve it soon after began to leak around valve due to stitches failing because of calcified tissue. 18 months later ohs #3 to repair leak. Fast forward to now and same issue, however my surgeon is extremely reluctant to opperate a 4th time and technology has improved whereby my interventional cardiologist wants to "have a crack at" plugging the severe leak via transcatheter plug. Has anyone had experience with this procedure?